Merry Christmas and a very happy New Year 2010

Time seems to be flying. The last presents still need wrapping, the preparations for the next days are not quite finished. And still, it already feels different with an air of expectation and joy.

I wish you and your families a warm and peaceful Christmas and a very happy New Year.
*****
Frohe Weihnachten und ein gesundes and glueckliches Neues Jahr.

Petra.

Little Cheeky Monkey

A young gentleman has birthday today. He is 5 now and he loves everything to do with Africa and wild animals. And because he is also quite cheeky at times I decided to make him a cheeky monkey birthday card

Supplies:
sqaure white card
paper - free paper from Paper Inspirations, plain yellow/brown card
stamp - Stampavie
ink - Artemio, VersaColor
colouring - Koh-i-noor with OMS
nestabilities - label 8 / quickutz - circles
Sizzix alphabet
embellishment - button and ribbon from my stash, bottle cap from Dovecraft
foam pads

This is also my first Easel card. It was really easy but I find it very effective as well. For instructions of how to go about please click HERE.

Happy Birthday to all who have birthday today, Petra.

Blue, White and Silver

These colours always remind me of winter and a winter wonderland. This is also the challenge from Elzybells: Winter Wonderland and you are to only use the colours blue, white and silver

Supplies:
square textured white card
papers - glitter silver and textured white card from my drawer
stamps - Elzybells
ink - Artemio
colouring - Koh-i-noor with OMS
Stickles 'Frosted Lace'
nestabilities, Sizzix snowflake die cut
bling - Artemio

Have a very happy Christmas, Petra.

Brag Monday & last minute tags

It has been quite an interesting Monday so far. When looking out of the window, big white snow flakes are falling out of the skye covering all surroundings into something magic. My daughter came this morning and we ended up making rocky bites

AND Karen, the Graphics Fairy, bragged about my work on her blog. I feel very honoured, my journey into the world of vintage graphics only began recently. It has been - and still is - a steep learning curve and has given me immense joy and pleasure. And it all started off with the discovery of The Graphics Fairy blog.

During the last days I tried to finish my Christmas cards but it seemed to be hopeless so I retreated to make a few last minute tags, one for Christmas and one for New Year. For both tags I used images from Karen.

Let's start with the New Year - this is also for the Sketchy Color (a sketch which I flipped horizontally)

and the Daring Cardmaker Challenge (New Beginnings)

For the New Year tag I cropped the image first, then printed it twice in two different sizes, cut it with nestabilities and layered it on Kraftcard from Elzybells, corrugated card and fabric. The Kraftcard is stamped with clocks. The No 1 in the image is slightly larger than the one in the original image. I did cut it out and covered it in orange glitter (which is now everywhere!). For the sentiment and the digits I used part of the original image, added white text and then cut it into shape.

and go back in time not only for Brag Monday but also for the Play Date Cafe challenge which is all about the colours blue, gold and cream

This was trickier because I had the idea to merge the French label with the Santa image. I just seemed to fit perfectly into each other. But it was easier said than done as Gimp is not my favourite tool and it is extremely difficult for me to cut straight lines. I also cleared some areas on the Franch label and added different text. You can see the outcome on one of the small images. This image is layered on gold glitter card, some patterned paper, small dark blue ribbon and golden tulle fabric. The finishing touches include a dark blue fabric rose, gold glitter and some blue bling.

Tomorrow will be another interesting day, it will be my first day back at work - at least if I can get through the snow :-)

I wish you all a very happy Christmas and a very happy New Year. Petra.

A Wonderful Surprise

Yesterday afternoon the doorbell rang and outside stood a very friendly gentleman all covered in snow holding a wonderful bouquet of flowers. He said it was for me, I was absolutely gobsmacked.
I have been poorly for a while and the flowers came from my friends and colleagues at work wishing me all the best. Earlier I had already received an adorable card from Jane which made me feel better immediately. The flowers and the card are so wonderful and I am very touched by all of this. Thanks to all friends and colleagues and a special thank you to Jane. Have a very nice and enjoyable weekend, Petra.

Sketchy New Year Wishes

This weeks colour challenge from Sketchy Colors is: green/blue

These are such vivid colours that they make perfect New Year celebration colours (at least for me)

Supplies:
A6 white card
papers - Marieke Vermeulen, BasicGrey
stamps - Papermania
ink/flowers - Artemio
brads - BasicGrey
sentiment - printed
nestabilities - oval, scalloped ovals
beads/fabric - from stash
silver glitter

The card has two layers of patterned paper and fabric. The image is stamped, cut out and inserted into the oval as centre piece. Little blue beads are spread between the fabric and around the brads in the centre of the flowers.
Happy New Year, Petra.

Creative Friday Wishlist

The Special Challenge for the 3. Advent is a wishlist:
animal with fur - little mice celebrating birthday
2 Flowers - paper flowers
2 Brads - in the middle of the flowers
ribbon - tartan
glitter - the icing on the cupcake and the candle
text - birthday sentiment
something round - the image
something with corners - square card
*****
Die Special Challenge fuer den 3 Advent ist eine Wunschliste
Tier mit Fell - kleine Maeuse, die Geburtstag feiern
2 Flowers - aus Papier
2 Brads - bilden die Mitte der Blumen
Ribbon - kariert
Glitzer - der Guss auf dem Cupcake und die Kerze
Text - Geburtstagsgruss
etwas rundes - das gestempelte Bildchen
und etwas eckiges - die viereckige Karte

Supplies:
papers - K&Company, Crate papers
stamps - Penny Black, Sugar and Spice
ink - VersaColor
colouring - Koh-i-noors with OMS
ribbon - from my stash
flowers - Artemio
brads - BasicGrey
Stickles ' Frosted Lace'
foam pads
Quickutz - circles, scalloped circles

happy fury birthday, Petra.

A Pair of Dotty Spotty Birthdays

... in 5"x5" format. For the Daring Cardmakers challenge it was 'going dotty' (polka-dots) and the Cupcake Craft challenge team asked for a 5"x5" birthday card. No Christmas theme! I quite enjoy the break from making Christmas cards and I had a request for some easy and simple birthday cards. This just fitted in nicely. And as I prepared the first card somehow a second one sneaked in, so the cards come in a pair

Supplies: papers - BasicGrey, Marieke Vermeulen; stamps - Sugar and Spice; ink - Heine; printed sentiment; foam pads; Stickles 'Xmas Red' and 'Frosted Lace'; nestabilities - squares


Supplies: papers - BasicGrey, Marieke Vermeulen; stamps - digi stamp from Stretch N'Bubbles; printed sentiment; nestabilities - squares; quickutz - circle, scallop circle; flower punch; bling - Kanban; little bow/hat needle - from my stash

Have a nice dotty spotty evening, Petra.

A Christmas ornament

The Elzybells challenge for this fortnight is to create a Christmas gift or a gift packaging. I made a little hanging Christmas gift which could also be used as tag for a gift box

Supplies:
paper - Hot of the Press, Kraft card from Elzybells, plain ivory card
stamps - Elzybells
ink - VersaColor
ribbon - from my stash
bling - Kanban
Stickles 'Gold'

The idea and instructions for this gift came from Stempeleinmaleins. The idea is brilliant and it is so well explained that it is really easy to create. All you need are 12 little cones, a backing and an embellishment to decorate it in the front - and, of course, some ribbon or thread to hang it somewhere.
*****
Die Idee und Anleitung fuer dieses Geschenk kommt von Stempeleinmaleins. Die Idee ist einfach brilliant und es wird so gut erklaert, dass es wirklich einfach ist, dieses Geschenk herzustellen. Was macht braucht sind 12 kleine Tuetchen, einen Kreis fuer die Rueckseite und etwas, um die Vorderseite zu dekorieren - und natuerlich ein Band, damit es aufgehaengt werden kann.

For this project I chose to keep with earthentone colours and a tartan scheme which went well with the Kraft card and the glitter.
*****
Fuer dieses Projekt habe ich mich an eine Farbpalette aus Erdfarben und ein Tartanmuster gehalten. Das passt sehr gut mit dem Glitter und dem Karftpapier.

Petra.

New Year's Kisses

The Play Date Cafe challenge provided the perfect foil to use one of Alison's (Stretch N' Bubbles) free Digi Stamps:

The frog reminded me immediately of: The Frog King (or Iron Henri) by the Gebrueder Grimm. The colour scheme and the theme of the story fitted perfectly

Supplies:
papers - BasicGrey
stamps - Magnolia, Stretch N' Bubbles, from Norway
ink - Artemio
colouring - Copic, Koh-i-noors with OMS
nestabilites - label 8
bling - Kanban
brads - Basic Grey
foam pads

Have fun, Petra.

Not just a box

... but a box with an inner life - a brooch, thanks to The Graphics Fairy Karen. Petra. xx